Rogue cabbies now required to 'explain themselves'

Taxi Commission rules drivers must explain their misconduct

PORTSMOUTH — The Taxi Commission on Monday voted to adopt a new policy that requires cabbies who are accused of "flipping the bird," cutting off another cab, or engaging in other illegal or inappropriate behavior to appear before the commission and explain themselves.

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By Elizabeth Dinan

seacoastonline.com

By Elizabeth Dinan

Posted Jul. 22, 2014 at 2:00 AM

By Elizabeth Dinan
Posted Jul. 22, 2014 at 2:00 AM

» Social News

PORTSMOUTH — The Taxi Commission on Monday voted to adopt a new policy that requires cabbies who are accused of "flipping the bird," cutting off another cab, or engaging in other illegal or inappropriate behavior to appear before the commission and explain themselves.

Commissioner Larry Cataldo proposed the plan during Monday's Taxi Commission meeting, when he said the commission has received multiple recent complaints about inappropriate behavior by city cab drivers. Cataldo told fellow commissioners he believed it was time to revisit "bad behavior" by some cabbies to "ensure there's a certain sense of proper conduct."

He suggested that cab drivers who are accused of illegal or inappropriate behavior be summonsed to appear before the commission so they can "explain themselves."

Jim Splaine, the City Council's liaison to the Taxi Commission, said he thought the plan could de-escalate friction between competing cab drivers.

Cataldo said recent coverage by the Portsmouth Herald of a March 20 incident in which Portsmouth Taxi driver Brian Schneider cut in front of another cabbie was "an embarrassment." Splaine said the transparency provided by press coverage can stop bad behavior, "not unlike high school."

After a police investigation, Schneider was cited with two violation-level charges alleging he made an unsafe lane change and a prohibited turn on a red light. John Palreiro, owner of Great Bay Taxi, told police that Schneider cut him off, "used his vehicle to endanger me" and he proved the incident with video surveillance captured by cameras installed throughout his cab.

Police liaison Lt. Mark Newport said the Taxi Commission should not summons cabbies who have been issued citations or charged with crimes until after their cases are resolved through the courts. Newport explained that having them appear to "explain themselves" before that time would violate their right not to incriminate themselves.

In May, Portsmouth Taxi driver Daniel Bigda wrote to the commission to complain that Palreiro had been displaying his middle finger "as we pass each other on the streets in town" after Bigda alleged Palreiro was operating without a taxi medallion. Bigda wrote to the commission that the so-called "flipping the bird" has "not affected me personally," but said "my passengers do find it offensive."

Palreiro was a member of the Taxi Commission but resigned after calling another cabbie a disparaging name during a meeting. He said he doesn't "flip the bird" at other cabbies, but does scratch his nose with his middle finger because of dry skin.

Those recent incidents were referenced by taxi commissioners before they voted unanimously on Monday to require cabbies accused of bad behavior to appear before the commission to discuss the accusations.